A minister who was sacked from the Church of Scotland emotionally abused his girlfriend, had an affair with a parishioner and masturbated in front of a colleague, an investigation has found. The Rev Dr Elijah Wade Smith, 32, had been the Kirk’s second youngest minister but was suspended from his church in Govanhill last year. A Presbyterial Commission found that he had been emotionally abusive to his girlfriend, who he humiliated in public and cheated on with a 19-year-old. Church officials described his behaviour as “contrary to the word of God”, saying that he “abused [his] duty of trust” and failed to separate his duties as a minister from friendships. The church set up the commission after allegations that he committed misconduct against several women…

Source: The Times June 20, 2019 23:03 UTC